Iminent Danger - North Korea threatens to wipe America off of the globe.

[Blabj]

Non-troll post inc:

I really don't understand what NKorea is trying to accomplish making threats of declarations of war and being such antagonists to allied countries. As far as I can make out, it's some bizarre form of martyrdom, because they must know that if they ever did succeed to plant a bomb on US soil, there'd be such a monumental shitstorm of retribution rained down from the sky on them that there would scarecly be anything left to identify that the millions of miles of scorched earth was actually North Korea.

As far as I'm aware, this is just some grudge match meets pissing contest with the US over a war that was fought around 60 years ago. I don't understand their motives, beyond some stupid form of revenge, which is a bit of a stupid reason really to drag a country into war and endanger potentially millions of innocent civilians.

[Atreides]

Non-troll post inc:

I really don't understand what NKorea is trying to accomplish making threats of declarations of war and being such antagonists to allied countries. As far as I can make out, it's some bizarre form of martyrdom, because they must know that if they ever did succeed to plant a bomb on US soil, there'd be such a monumental shitstorm of retribution rained down from the sky on them that there would scarecly be anything left to identify that the millions of miles of scorched earth was actually North Korea.

As far as I'm aware, this is just some grudge match meets pissing contest with the US over a war that was fought around 60 years ago. I don't understand their motives, beyond some stupid form of revenge, which is a bit of a stupid reason really to drag a country into war and endanger potentially millions of innocent civilians.

It's widely assumed/theorized that the DPRK's recent military posturing is being done for 2 reasons:
A) as an internal move to show the power of KJI's 3rd son and supposed successor, Kim Jung-un
B) as an external move to either test Barrack Obama or other neighbors around

Reports out of the DPRK are sporadic at best but seem to indicate that KJI has already begun to pass the reigns of power to his son Kim Jong-Un, beginning with the secret police. As far as anyone can tell Kim Jong-un has spent precious little time in the public spotlight both domestically and abroad, as opposed to Kim the elder who has something like 60-90 public appearances a year at least. The fact that he led a relatively private life up until now is something of a problem, it's more or less like Michael Jackson (pardon the analogy) saying "oh Blanket is now the King of Pop" without at least drumming up a little positive press for his new album.

That's why it's theorized that the DPRKs recent nuclear/missile tests are being done for internal solidification of power, to show the power of the younger Kim to the DPRKs elite 600 families of party officials and military top brass and say "this is how brave our Brilliant Comrade Kim Jong-un is, he isn't afraid to show our power to the foreigners" so they have no choice but to follow him as they did his father.

To some extent recent events in the world play into this as well. America has a new president, Japan got a new Prime Minister back in September, and although China has always been the DPRK's biggest ally it's become somewhat apparent that China is now just as big (if not bigger) of an ally of the US and Russia (BRIC meetings were like 2 weeks ago, for example). To some extent KJI's possible succession comes at an opportune time to "test the waters" but this is an unnecessarily risky move when the DPRK can just as easily take an equally obstinate position in negotiations without setting the cause of their own aid programs back a few decades.

The only part that still confuses me is how the DPRK hasn't begun to put Kim Jong-un forward as the DPRK's next leader to the rest of the world. The recent missile/nuclear tests could be as much of a show of KJU's strength to the rest of the world as they are to the North Korean people but perhaps they're aiming for a silent transfer of power so there's no perceived gap in legitimacy.

There have also been reports that either Kim Jong-il or Kim Jong-un have made attempts on the life of KJI's eldest son (and reported former successor) Kim Jong-nam, who was supposedly able to escape to Macao using his contacts in China. The crisis was not widely discussed but it did bring to light an apparent gap in the DPRKs relationship with China, that Chinese officials were more supportive of Kim Jong-nam than the NK regime. Combined with China's recent support of UN sanctions of North Korea, the DPRK now has further reason to rattle their sabers and see if China really has their backs.

The U.S. probably is a factor in the DPRK's recent testing but only one of many, and not the most important factor. As I said it's more likely an internal move proved at showing the mettle of KJIs upcoming successor, the fact that it can function as a test/show of power to the US and China is merely icing on the cake.

[Blabj]

Ah I see. Well, that does go a long way to give reasoning behind the current show they're putting on, but I still can't help but think it's a very reckless way to go about anything. Especially if they want a smooth transition of power. They're not going to get that with the whole world looking at them waiting to see what they're going to do next.

But still, it's all politics at this stage, and I've never quite managed to fully understand or be enthralled by decisions made in politics, and I think this just proves that to me...

[Takedown3]

did they fire yet?

[noblemountain]

did they fire yet?

yeah

SKorea says North fires 7 missiles off east coast - Yahoo! News

[Takedown3]

weak dawg i wanted to see if they would try and smoke hawaii

[thebearofscience]

I doubt that NKorea would just smoke Hawaii; would be the stupidest shit ever.

Kim Jong-Il is a fucking genius though... to make a whole country of people to be isolated from the rest of the world and not know anything about history for such a long time is a pretty amazing feat.

[Xiona]

if you make your population idiotic then to lead them doesnt take genius

[Pirian]

They probably photoshopped some of those missiles in

[noblemountain]

I doubt that NKorea would just smoke Hawaii; would be the stupidest shit ever.

Kim Jong-Il is a fucking genius though... to make a whole country of people to be isolated from the rest of the world and not know anything about history for such a long time is a pretty amazing feat.

That was more his father's doing than his. He has just maintained it...and poorly really. By that logic though, all those African military dictators are genius for keeping their people on the brink of starvation and uneducated.

[Araelus]

They probably photoshopped some of those missiles in

Since I photoshopped that "The Onion" article and no-one noticed, it's possible.

[oldoldman]

IMMINENT DANGER

[kuronosan]

EXTENSIVE SARCASM

[noblemountain]

Hey guys...we condemn that...so, cut it out.

U.N. council condemns N.Korea missile launch - Yahoo! News